Caroline Perkins, 82

Caroline Susan Courtney Perkins was born on Oct. 7, 1943, in Mexico, Missouri, to William and Virginia Courtney. Raised along with her older sisters, Marge and Elizabeth, her parents imbued the values of a close-knit community. It was as a child that she began a life-long love of swimming, and she often bragged of placing second in a race … out of three swimmers. She carried that foundation to Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, where she earned a degree in psychology. It was during her senior year that she met Max Perkins, a geology graduate student. The two were wed on Dec. 23, 1964, beginning a devoted partnership that would span more than six decades.

Their early years took them to Germany during Max’s military service before they returned to Texas to build their family. As Max’s career in petroleum geology led them across the gulf coast — from Kingsville and Houston to Covington, Louisiana — Caroline remained the heart of the home. Along the way, they welcomed four children, Courtney, twins, Steve and Dan, and John.

In 1978, the family settled in Plano, Texas. As her children grew, Caroline pursued her own academic passions with distinction. She earned a master’s in humanities from Southern Methodist University and a PhD in the history of ideas from the University of Texas at Dallas. Her doctoral research focused on the works of Wendell Berry, exploring the profound impact of disappearing small-town communities — a subject close to her heart and rooted in her rural Missouri upbringing. At various times in Plano, she enjoyed teaching high school history, singing in the civic choir, and swimming with the master’s program. The family made yearly trips to the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado which instilled in her a deep love of the mountains.

In their later years, Caroline and Max embraced life as empty nesters in Calgary, Alberta, before retiring to the mountains of Whitefish where she explored her varied interests. An outdoor enthusiast, Caroline completed 24 half-marathons and was an active member of the "Whitefish Walkers" hiking group. She found great joy in her book clubs, participating in the P.E.O. sisterhood, playing Mah Jongg, learning to play the hammer dulcimer, writing short stories, and hosting vibrant family reunions for her eleven grandchildren.

In 2021, the couple moved to Austin, Texas, where they became beloved members of the Longhorn Village community, and were known affectionately as "Moose's Parents" for the frequent walks they took with their chocolate lab. Caroline also found peace in the simple beauty of the birds that visited her feeders and the friends she formed through her participation in a drum circle, tai chi, and another Mah Jongg group.

Following a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer diagnosed in late 2024, Caroline passed away peacefully on March 31, 2026, surrounded by the family she spent her lifetime cherishing.

Caroline was a rare blend of sharp intellect, quick wit, and a warmth that made everyone feel like the most interesting person in the room. She navigated conversations with a wisdom that felt like an invitation rather than a lecture. She was as formidable at trivia as she was generous with her curiosity — though, for all her brilliance, she’ll likely be remembered most for her bright spirit, infectious laugh, and her soul-settling hugs.

Caroline is survived by her devoted husband, Max; her children, Courtney (Cliff) Johnson, Dan (Lisa) Perkins, and John (Darby) Perkins; her daughter-in-law, Laura; her sister, Elizabeth; and eleven grandchildren, Emma, Oleg, Vivian, Lena, Hanna, Will, Alex, Quinn, Eli, Jed and Max.

She was preceded in death by her son, Steve, her oldest sister Marge, and her faithful "furry legged friends," Orvis and Moose.